The eladrin ready to go!
Turq watches Baldrick go... He recognizes the crisis of a career soldier being put in civilian life, and has seen many break down, finding that they have no direction in life. Worry not, my friend. We will find you a new goal to work toward...
Shifting his pack with a heft, Turq heads out to catch up with the bunch, stopping only to give a look to his mess of a house, marred by the sign of the previous night, only to notice that Rodney is still getting dressed, Come on, Roddy... No time like the present!
The morning is cold and windy. The pale glow of the sun barely able to penetrate the shroud of darkness does little to warm anything. Turq leads you to a small shack with a flickering candle in the window.
Knocking at the door, it cracks open and you see the face of a middle aged woman. Looking at you all, she asks ”Are the boys sent by Olivessa?” upon confirming your identity, she hands over a tightly wrapped bundle of cloth. ”Joey’s locked himself in his room. Something isn’t right though. He’s different somehow. You best be getting that thing back soon, b’for that ghost comes visitin’ again. “ she finishes indicating the wrapped parcel.
Turq nods, heading straight for the boy's room (presumably pointed out by the mom) and knocks, Joey, ye likely don't know me as I just moved here, but we'd like ta help you. Ye been havin' the bad dreams, I hear tell...
”Go away! I gave my ma the stick.” you hear from behind the single door in the shack. The cabin is small and appointed with all the adornments one would expect in a place so far north.
"Hey there, Joe. Listen, I know what it's like to have bad dreams - I used to get 'em all the time after... well, and anyway, this guy here, Rodalas? He talks to ghosts. Or, well he did the last time, anyway. Maybe you could tell us what yer ghost has been saying?"
Everyone waits with bated breath after Baldrick’s stirring words. You hear a board on the other side of the door slide to the side and the door opens. The gasp of Joey’s mother is the first thing you hear as a middle aged Joey opens the door.
Turq, Joey has definitely aged since the last time you seen him. You’d guess at least 10-20 years at a guess.
Rodney rolls his eyes at Turq. and then tries his luck with the wayward child.
"My boy , My boy, My boy. You have something that does not belong to you. And it is most likely the cause of your current troubles. Just open this door and lets have a talk. Perhaps we could come to some agreement of getting that item from you. What say you."
Oh, Joey, what have ye done? Turq shakes his head. Let us return this ta where it belongs. Where'd ye find it, lad?
Turq has his hand out to the middle aged boy, Hand it over.
The damned ghost! It came to me last night. Nothin’ I could do. Scared me so much that I couldn’t move!” the boys young eyes pleadingly stare back at you from this much older man’s face. You gotta help me. I feel so different. Give em back what’s his and he’ll leave me be! It’s in there, Just take it!” he points at the wrapped up package that his mom had given you as his mood slips to one of panic.
Where'd ye find it? We'll take it back. We'll try ta see if we can collect enough fer a priest ta help ye...
”I don’t know! I got it from those adventurers, the dwarf lady said she would have a map made!”
Completely overlooking (or perhaps oblivious to) the middle-aged "boy" , Baldrick touches Joey gently on the arm: "It's alright, lad. What's this ghost been tellin' you, eh? What's it look like?"
Netz, Good Mead's too small ta have someone that can bandy about that kind of magick, Turq says shaking his head, [/b]His best bet will be Bryn Shander... But let us return this to its home 'afore we have more problems, eh?[/b]
At Baldrick's question, Turq stops, I guess that is wise, knowin' yer enemy and all...
If no one else has taken it yet, Umikh gingerly places the wrapped up stick of nightmares in his pack. He waits to see if not-so-young Joey can tell them anything about the nightmares or about the ghost haunting him, it might prove to be useful.
After learning anything else that would be helpful, he heads out the door along the path on the map to the cave. He was serious about trying to be back in time for supper! Doesn't want anything to delay dealing with this cursed wand and ghosts and nonsense.
The eladrin listens and is a look out, on guard that they are not attacked.
"Yes lad, has the ghost said anything to you?" Rodney asks.
Joey steadies himself briefly enough to describe the ghost. He gives a description of a man in furs and adornments that would be common to the north. Some of the adornments that the he describes though might be able to identify this ghost’s origin.
"There's a good lad. You just let yer ma take care of you and we'll be back soon."
Looking sorrowful for the boy, Baldrick turns back to the others: "Sounds like this ghost came from one of them glacier tribes - maybe a chief or a shaman."
Lumen listens to the boy, concerned that his sudden aging may not be able to be reversed. "That is strong magic. Hopefully if we return the wand, the effects will be reversed," he says, trying to be encouraging.
"Well we better get the wand back, and maybe the spirits may rest."
That certainly sounds like it could be one of the Reghed, Turq muses at Baldrick's prompting. There is a shrine here, dedicated to Tempos, their version of Tempus, god of war. Maybe he was a resident? Long ago, maybe. Perhaps we can find out more at the site. We'll leave ye and yer ma to rest. We'll put this thing back where it belongs, have no fear.
With that, Turq nods to the others and heads out the door.
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Following Turq out of the house, Baldrick rambles a few questions at the human: "Reghed? Oh - like those people we met in the woods with Khitt and er... what was your friend's name? Shakti... Shackle... or, something? Are they still in Good Mead?"
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Shaktal... Turq says, as he pulls his hood up to hide a flush to his cheeks, They were nearby, a few hours, at least, by foot. Don't know if they have moved on yet. The Reghed tend to move with the herds... though hunting has been scarce.
Fishing out the map, Turq unfurls it, Let us see how far it is...
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Netzer nods about the lack of a good cleric and tells the boy we will do what we can as quick as we can, hold fast and we will take care of it. Netzer then walks out with the group and says I don't know all the local strengths and weaknesses of this area yet Turq so let's find this thing and take care of it
Umikh peers over Turq's shoulder at the map.
You examine the map and plan your route. You need to get to the eastern side of the lake.
You have two options.
Following the coastline northeast and with the frozen waters crossing the ice to the eastern side. This route, you may be able to make it to the cave by the end of the day.
Your second option would be to take the safer, easier to travel road back to Easthaven and then head SE from there. More than likely, you would not be able to make it to the point on the map today but sometime early tomorrow.
If you have another idea, feel free to pitch it. here is a link to the Area Map. X is marked where the trappers have marked your, much cruder, drawing of the map.
Well, boyos, I would say let us cross the frozen lake at the North end of Redwaters. You'll all need ta get yerselves a set o' crampons, so ye don't slip on the ice... Otherwise, we can hoof it around the long way, Turq offers, pointing out the path on the map.
Baldrick looks briefly at the map and listens to Turq's assessment of distance and time: "Welll, I've got crampons, so whichever way you want to go is fine but... Are we going to want to explore a cave at night after marching all day?"
Turq grins, Afraid of the dark, are ye?
Then being serious, The place will be shelter for the night, if I'm being honest. The cold of the outdoors will be ten times worse than a night in any kind of shelter. If it makes any of ye feel better, we can explore it after spending a night there, but it'll be dark in there whether we explore night or day...
Baldrick shrugs noncommittally - happy to follow Turq's lead and eager for the chance to be underground again.
"And remember the ghostie seems to come out at night, by what the lad had to say." Rodney chimes in.
Well I'm fer getting there as quick as we can, crossing ice sounds good. Are we sure it's entirely frozen? I think I have some crampons here somewhere...
He trails off rooting around for them.
"So you want to get there as quickly as possible by going across the frozen lake and then spend the night in an unexplored cave where a cursed wand was found and which could be haunted? I can't think of anything that could go wrong," Lumen says sarcastically.
"Remember, we can't help the boy if something happens to us. I think the more prudent path would be to return to Easthaven where we can spend the night and then finish the journey to the cave so that we can explore it during the day. While sleeping in a cave is better than out in the open, it doesn't compete with a warm inn," Lumen says, trying to talk some sense into the group.
Turq looks at Lumen, one of the members that he knows the least, I trust yer wisdom, priest, but doubt ye have had to sleep in the open tundra these days. The Frostmaiden is unforgiving, and I do not relish being caught out in the open field when night falls. We will all do our best to help each other, and with us working together, we will be okay. We have rope, crampons, and I think I will trade out my heavier chain mail for lighter chain shirt, to reduce the chance of falling through the ice.
Turning to Umikh (and anyone else wearing heavy armor), Perhaps, ye might consider it, as well...
Then returning to Lumen, I am not certain that Joey-boy can last another night, do you?
Sounds like fun the eladrin says.
Turq shakes his head, Netz, we just woke up and ye want ta waste a whole day sleepin'? If we are careful and keep closer to the coast, the ice will be thicker. We just have ta be smart about it...
Crampons ON! We've had our eggs and bacon, let's shove out.